Self-dumping finishing and polishing machine



June 13, 1933 G. w. BALZ 3,093,940

SELF-DUMPING FINISHING AND POLISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 10, 1960 Tic.1.5

Tia. Z Z0\ 7 25 7/ 11:3; *1 j i/ /5 r /Z I k 5 Z4 Z3 7 W 0 -13INVENYTOR. Gan ma 49412 United States Patent 3,093,940 SELF-DUMPENGFINISHHNG ANE) PUHSHENG MACHINE Gunther W. Ba'iz, 2914 S. Westnedge Ave,Kalamazoo, Mich. Filed Aug. 10, 1960, Ser- No. 48,737 4 Claims. (Cl.51163) This invention relates to finishing and polishing machines of thetype in which the parts to be finished or polished may be admixed withfinishing or polishing material, such as stone, chips or the like andare then vibrated.

Herctofore in such machines, particularly of the batch type, there hasbeen provided a hopper to receive the pieces to be finished and thefinishing or polishing material. This hopper has been mounted on pivotsso that the entire hopper may be turned to a dumping position whichgenerally necessitates rather cumbersome and room-taking equipment.

One of the objects of the present invention is to pro- Vide a finishingand polishing machine which obviates this diificulty.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which the parts are soarranged and disposed that it is unnecessary to tilt the machine toadumping position, thus eliminating the equipment required heretofore.

Another object of the invention, is to provide such a machine in whichthe dumping is accomplished with minimal effort, making use of theparticular arrangement of the means for agitating the work pieces andthe finishing or polishing material to cause efiicient and speedyunloading of the hopper.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing specification wherein a preferred illustrative form of theinvention is shown and described, it being understood, however, that theinstrumentalities there shown and described are merely illustrative andare not intended to limit the invention to the specific arrangement andorganization described and shown.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is an end elevation of a machine embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed view partly in section showing the dischargeopening and its cover and the means for mounting the same.

The invention consists generally in a hopper adapted to receive thefinishing or polishing material and the pieces to be finished orpolished. In the preferred form of the invention the hopper has arounded semi-cylindrical bottom. A vibratory motor having its axisparallel to the axis of the semi-cylindrical bottom and carrying aneccentric weight adapted to give rotary vibraitons to the hopper and itscontents are mounted directly on the hopper.

In one end of the hopper there is a discharge opening adjacent thebottom of the hopper. It is adapted to permit the discharge of thepieces and the finishing and polishing material after the finishing andpolishing operation. It is provided with a removable cover for sealingthe opening.

A tiltable frame is provided and there are means thereon supporting thehopper and the motor with its eccentric weight as a unit for freemovement in space. There are means supporting this tiltable frame fortilting on an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of the motor andthe hopper and there are means preferably at the end of the hopperopposite the discharge opening for tilting the hopper.

It is thus possible to discharge the contents of the hopper easily andsimply by removing the cover, flushing the contents with a washingliquid if desired, and then operating the motor and its eccentricweight. to vibrate the hopper and thus impart a feeding motion to thecontents to discharge them from the discharge opening.

The specific embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings consistsof the hopper 1 which has a semi-cylindrical bottom 2 and an open top 3through. which the hopper may be charged. Mounted directly on the hopperis a motor 4 having an eccentric weight 5 mounted for rotation about theaxis of the motor, which axis in the preferred form of the inventionextends parallel to the axis of the semi-cylindrical bottom of thehopper.

The hopper is mounted for free movement in space on a tiltable frame 6by means of coil springs 7 which rest at 8 on top of the frame andengage beneath supports 9 which are rigidly secured to the hopper 1.

The tiltable frame 6 is mounted on pivotal supports 10 which extendgenerally perpendicular to the axis of the motor and the roundedsemi-cylindrical bottom of the hopper and consist of the members 11 and.12 and the pivot pins 13.

In FIG. 2 the hopper is shown in the normal operative position in fulllines, and in dotted lines it is shown in tilted position for discharge.

Means are provided at one end of the hopper to achieve this tilting.They consist of a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 14- which is pivotallymounted at its lower end to the floor, as is indicated at 15, and isprovided with a plunger and rod 16 which is pivotally connected at 17 toa lever 18 rigidly secured to the hopper 1. The operating lines andcontrols for this member are not shown since they are conventional.

At the outer end of the hopper is a discharge opening 19 which isprovided with a cover generally indicated at 20 which consists of aperforated member 21 through which flushing water may be discharged anda solid cover member 22 which overlies the member 21 and may be held inplace by screws 23 which are threaded in brackets 24 and are providedwith hand wheels for operation. Suitable gaskets 2.6 and 27 areprovided.

In operation of this machine the parts are charged into the machine withthe finishing or polishing material. The motor 4 and its vibratingeccentric weight are energized. This imparts a rotary vibratory motionto the contents of the hopper which moves orbitally in a path generallyfollowing the contour of the bottom of the hopper, discharging orspilling back across the hopper and continuing in this way. This causesthe polishing to take place because of the intimate contact and movementbetween the pieces and the finishing or polishing material.

After the pieces have been finished the outer cover may be removed andthe machine may be flushed to remove objectionable grit or the like.Thereafter the entire cover is removed and the machine is tilted to theposition shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The motor is energized withthe hopper in this position and the vibratory rotary motion imparted tothe contents of the hopper causes the contents to feed along the hopperand out through the discharge opening into any suitable container.

It will be apparent that with this arrangement the amount of tilting ofthe hopper is relatively small. A tilting of a few degrees, such as theamount shown in the drawings which is about 10, is adequate. Thistilting can be achieved with the simple equipment shown or with othersuitable equipment. The equipment is not extensive and the amount oftilting is such that very little floor space in addition to thatrequired for operating the machine is needed.

Because the motor is mounted directly on the hopper and is free, withthe hopper for free movement in space, the tilting operation ismaterially simplified, as is the driving of the motor and the vibratorto cause the material to flow from the hopper.

The provision of the hopper with its semi-cylindrical bottom and themounting of the motor with its eccentric weight on an axis parallel tothe axis of the semi-cylindrical bottom and the tilting on an axisgenerally at right angles thereto greatly simplifies and facilitates theunloading of the hopper because the energization of the motor causesrotary vibrations generally orbital about the axis of thesemi-cylindrical bottom. This simplifies the feeding since the parts andthe finishing or polishing material all tend to orbit about a line whichextends generally in the direction of the desired flow.

' The mounting of the hopper on the spring 7 is materially simplified,and since the tilting is not great there is no untoward strain on themounting equipment as might be involved if the entire hopper had to betilted more than 90 for discharge.

It will be apparent that the present invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof. It is therefore desired and intended that the presentembodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than theforegoing description .to indicate the scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. In .a finishing and polishing machine the combination of a hopperadapted to receive finishing or polishing material and the pieces to befinished or polished having a rounded semi-cylindrical bottom and avibratory motor having its axis parallel to the axis of saidsemi-cylindrical bottom and carrying an eccentric weight adapted toimpart rotary vibrations to said hopper and its contents mounteddirectly on said hopper, said hopper haVing at one end thereof adjacentthe bottom a discharge opening for the contents of said hopper and acover for sealing said opening, a tiltable frame, and means on saidtiltable frame supporting said hopper and motor as a unit for jfreemovement in space, and means supporting said tiltable frame for tiltingon an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of said hopper andmeans'for tilting said tiltable frame whereby said hopper may besimultaneously tilted and vibrated to empty said hopper when saiddischarge opening is open.

2. In a finishing and polishing machine the combination of a hopperadapted to receive finishing or polishing material and the pieces to befinished or polished having a rounded semi-cylindrical bottomand avibratory motor having its axis parallel to the axis of saidsemi-cylindrical bottom and carrying an eccentric weight adapted toimpart rotary vibrations to said hopper and its contents mounteddirectly on said hopper, said hopper having at one end thereof adjacentthe bottom a discharge opening for the contents of said hopper and acover for sealing said opening, a tiltable frame, means on said tiltableframe supporting said hopper and motor as a unit for free movement inspace, and means supporting said tiltable frame for tilting on an axisgenerally perpendicular to the axis of said hopper whereby said hoppermay be simultaneously tilted and vibrated to empty said hopper when saiddischarge opening is open.

3. In a finishing and polishing machine the combination of a hopperadapted to receive finishing or polishing mate- .rial and the pieces tobe finished or polished having a vibratory motor carrying an eccentricweight adapted to impart rotary vibrations to said hopper and its,contents mounted directly on said hopper, said hopper having at one endthereof adjacent the bottom a discharge opening for the contents of saidhopper anda cover for sealing said opening, a tiltable frame, means onsaid tiltable frame supporting said hopper and motor as a unit for freemovement in space, and means supporting said tiltable frame for tiltingon an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of saidmotor and meansfor tilting said tiltable frame whereby said hopper may besimultaneously tilted and vibrated to empty said hopper when saiddischarge opening is open.

4. In a finishing and polishing machine the combination of .a hopperadapted to receive finishing or polishing material and the pieces to 'befinished or polished having a vibratory motor carrying an eccentricweight adapted to impart rotary vibrations to said hopper and itscontents mounted directly on said hopper, said hopper having at one endthereof adjacent the bottom a discharge opening for the contents of saidhopper and a cover for sealing said opening, a tiltable frame, means onsaid tiltable frame supporting said hopper and motor as a unit for freemovement in space, and means supporting said tiltable frame for tiltingon an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of said motor wherebysaid hopper may be simultaneously tilted and vibrated to empty saidhopper when said discharge opening is open.

References Cited in the file of-this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,118,227 Ransohoif May 24, 1933 2,143,610 Muller et al Jan. 10, 19392,519,060 Manley Y.. V Aug. 15, 1950

1. IN A FINISHING AND POLISHING MACHINE THE COMBINATION OF A HOPPERADAPTED TO RECEIVE FINISHING OR POLISHING MATERIAL AND THE PIECES TO BEFINISHED OR POLISHED HAVING A ROUNDED SEMI-CYLINDRICAL BOTTOM AND AVIBRATORY MOTOR HAVING ITS AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAIDSEMI-CYLINDRICAL BOTTOM AND CARRYING AN ECCENTRIC WEIGHT ADAPTED TOIMPART ROTARY VIBRATIONS TO SAID HOPPER AND ITS CONTENTS MOUNTEDDIRECTLY ON SAID HOPPER, SAID HOPPER HAVING AT ONE END THEREOF ADJACENTTHE BOTTOM A DISCHARGE OPENING FOR THE CONTENTS OF SAID HOPPER AND ACOVER FOR SEALING SAID OPENING, A TILTABLE FRAME, AND MEANS ON SAIDTILTABLE FRAME SUPPORTING SAID HOPPER AND MOTOR AS A UNIT FOR FREEMOVEMENT IN SPACE, AND MEANS SUPPORTING SAID TILTABLE FRAME FOR TILTINGON AN AXIS GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID HOPPER AND MEANSFOR TILTING SAID TILTABLE FRAME WHEREBY SAID HOPPER MAY BESIMULTANEOUSLY TILTED AND VIBRATED TO EMPTY SAID HOPPER WHEN SAIDDISCHARGE OPENING IS OPEN.